Care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting

ABSTRACT

A care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting allowing a labor burden on a carer in bathing and toileting of a bedridden sufferer to be minimized, which could not be performed by a conventional care bed, comprising a bed having a plurality of vertical grooves disposed on a bath tub; arms fittedly inserted to the plurality of vertical grooves, and a lift capable of horizontally raising and longitudinally moving the arms after the arms are fittedly inserted into the plurality of vertical grooves.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a care bed for a sufferer suchas a bedridden aged person requiring a care. In particular, the presentinvention relates to a care bed capable of remarkably reducing the laborburden on carers to operate a care for the sufferer.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, with regards to a care bed for a sufferer such asa bedridden aged person requiring a care, such a care bed has beenmainly used that only allows the sufferer to easily rise from the bed bychanging the angle of the backrest.

[0003] With a conventional care bed, on an occasion where a bedriddensufferer uses a bath or defecates in a toilet, a carer to performvarious care actions requiring much labor burden such as to move thesufferer from the care bed or to move back the sufferer to the care bed.

[0004] The present invention was made in view of the above, and aims atproviding a care bed used commonly for bathing and provided to reducethe labor burden to a carer as much as possible when the carer helps abedridden sufferer use a bath or a toilet.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting according tothe present invention comprises a bed having a plurality of verticalgrooves disposed on a bath tub; and a lift having arms to be insertedinto the plurality of vertical grooves, for lifting horizontally andmovable back and forth after the arms are inserted to the plurality ofvertical grooves, thus allowing even a carer of advanced age to help asufferer to have a bath and to move to a toilet easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front view of a care bed used commonly for bathing andtoileting that is attached with a lift;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a front view of the lift;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lift arm;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side view of a bed backrest adjustment hydraulicmachine;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hydraulic lift having ahydraulic pump;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an auxiliary hydraulic lift;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a toilet that allows a user to use thetoilet while lying down on the bed;

[0013]FIG. 8 is a side view of the toilet that allows a user to use thetoilet while lying down on the bed and a lift;

[0014]FIG. 9 is a side view of a toilet on which a user sits and a lift;

[0015]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a toilet on which a user sits;

[0016]FIG. 11 is a front view of a lift in which the arm is lifted bywinding up the wire by the gear motor;

[0017]FIG. 12 is a side cross sectional view of the lift in which thearm is lifted by winding up the wire by the gear motor;

[0018]FIG. 13 is a side cross sectional view of a lift in which the armis lifted by tightening up the screw by the gear motor;

[0019]FIG. 14 is a perspective view in which a toilet is attached abovea bath tub;

[0020]FIG. 15 is a side cross sectional view in which a toilet isattached above a bath tub;

[0021]FIG. 16 is a side cross sectional view in which a toilet isattached along rails and exterior to the bath tub; and

[0022]FIG. 17 is a front view of an air mattress type folding bed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] Embodiment of a care bed used commonly for bathing and toiletingaccording to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a front view of the care bed used commonly for bathingand toileting according to the present invention, and particularly alift 100 is attached to the bed.

[0025] This lift 100 is attached so as to be movable in forward andbackward directions (in a perpendicular direction to the drawing) by agear motor 1 for forward and backward movements having a roller movablein rails.

[0026] The lift 100 comprises a main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulicpump; a hydraulic lift 3 having an arm adjustment hydraulic pump for anupper body; a fixed auxiliary hydraulic lift 4; and a bobbing typeauxiliary hydraulic lift 5.

[0027] Among them, the main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulic pump andthe hydraulic lift 3 having an arm adjustment hydraulic pump for anupper body are hydraulic lifts having a hydraulic pump to which ahydraulic pump 27 and a solenoid valve 26 are attached as shown in FIG.5.

[0028] The fixed auxiliary hydraulic lift 4 and the bobbing typeauxiliary hydraulic lift 5 are auxiliary hydraulic lifts to which acheck valve 28 and a hole 29 are attached as shown in FIG. 6.

[0029] Arms 7 shown in FIG. 1 are provided so as to be inserted intovertical grooves 10 of a bed 9 having vertical grooves.

[0030] This bed 9 having vertical grooves is provided by preparingindividual bed elements and attaching each bed element to a base boardby bolts from the lower side, thereby allowing the entirety of the bedto be foldable. As a sheet for covering the bed 9, hat-like sheet piecesare put on each of the bed elements, respectively.

[0031]FIG. 2 is the front view illustrating the movements of mainhydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulic pump, hydraulic lift 3 having an armadjustment hydraulic pump for upper body, fixed auxiliary hydraulic lift4, bobbing type auxiliary hydraulic lift 5, and arms 7 of the lift 100.

[0032]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating how the hydraulic lift 3having arm adjustment hydraulic pump for upper body, the fixed auxiliaryhydraulic lift 4, and the bobbing type auxiliary hydraulic lift 5 areattached to the arms 7.

[0033] A part of the arms 7 that contacts with the back of a sufferer iscovered with soft rubber that is well drained.

[0034]FIG. 4 is a side view of how the bed 9 having vertical grooves 10is attached. The upper body part can be set at any angle by a shaft 13and a backrest adjustment hydraulic machine 24.

[0035]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic lift having ahydraulic pump. The hydraulic lift has a solenoid valve 26 and ahydraulic pump 27. To lift the bed, the hydraulic pump 27 is operated.When the bed is lowered, the solenoid valve 26 is opened so that the bedis lowered by the load.

[0036] It is noted that this hydraulic lift having a hydraulic pump isused in the main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulic pump, the hydrauliclift 3 having an arm adjustment hydraulic pump for upper body, and ahydraulic machine 49 having a hydraulic pump for opening and closing abath tub (FIG. 8). In the backrest adjustment hydraulic machine 24, acheck valve of the hydraulic pump is attached in a reverse manner.

[0037]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary hydraulic liftthat has a check valve 28 and a hole 29 for moving oil in upward anddownward directions. The check valve 28 is a valve for releasing toaccelerate the upward movement of the arm 7. The hole 29 is a hole formaintaining the descending speed of the arm 7.

[0038] The use of this auxiliary hydraulic lift prevents a user, whenthe body of the user is caught by arms 7, from being applied with a loadother than a load by the body weight of the user. It is noted that thisauxiliary hydraulic lift is used in the fixed auxiliary hydraulic lift 4and the bobbing type auxiliary hydraulic lift 5.

[0039]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the toilet 16 that allows a user to usethe toilet while lying down on the bed.

[0040]FIG. 8 is a side view of the toilet 16 that allows a user to usethe toilet while lying down on the bed and the lift 100.

[0041] In using the toilet 16, the toilet 16 is pushed to the centermoving in the bath tub 15 by the roller 30 in the roller groove 14.

[0042] Whenever the toilet is used, wastewater from the toilet isdischarged by a toilet wastewater hose 51 via a toilet drain pump 50.Water is fed via a water feed hose 45 and is separately fed for showerand toilet wastewater by a shower-and-washing feed valve 46 and atoilet-bowl-cleaning feed valve 47, each of the hoses is wound by arotation drum.

[0043] Rubber gloves 42 for disposing waste and a waste cutter 32 forcutting the waste are attached inside.

[0044]FIG. 9 is a side view of the toilet 55 on which a user sits andthe lift.

[0045]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the toilet 55 on which a user sits.

[0046] Systems for bathing and moving the toilet in the state where asufferer is placed in the care bed used commonly for bathing andtoileting structured as described above according to the presentinvention will be described.

[0047] First, bathing system will be described in the state where thesufferer lies on the bed 9, the main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulicpump in FIG. 1 is positioned at the lower position while the arms 7 areinserted in the vertical grooves 10 of the bed 9.

[0048] Firstly, a pillow, a blanket or the like on the bed 9 are removedand the sufferer in naked is placed at the center of the bed.

[0049] Then, the gear motor 1 for forward and backward movements havinga roller is moved in the forward direction so that the sufferer ispositioned at the center of the arms 7. A drop prevention frame 22 inFIG. 3 is inserted to a drop prevention frame insertion hole 21 toprevent the sufferer from dropping from the bed.

[0050] Next, the hydraulic pump 27 of the main hydraulic lift 2 having ahydraulic pump is moved in the upward direction to lift the sufferer(shown by the broken line) horizontally as shown in FIG. 1.

[0051] Next, the gear motor 1 for forward and backward movements havinga roller is operated to move the sufferer in the forward direction.Then, the hydraulic pump 27 of the hydraulic machine 49 having ahydraulic pump for opening and closing a bath tub (FIG. 5) is operatedas shown in FIG. 8 to allow the bed 9 having vertical grooves to berotated and opened, thereby opening the top face of the bath tub 15.

[0052] Thereafter, the gear motor 1 for forward and backward movementshaving a roller is operated again to move the sufferer to the center ofthe bath tub. Then, the solenoid valve 26 of the main hydraulic lift 2(FIG. 5) is opened to lower the arms 7 by the body weight of thesufferer.

[0053] As a result, the arms 7 are curved along the inner circumferenceof the bath tub 15 so that the sufferer is soaked into the bath tub 15in a comfortable posture.

[0054] When the body of the sufferer is washed, the hydraulic pump 27 ofthe main hydraulic lift 2 is operated to lift the sufferer horizontallyas shown in FIG. 1. Then, a washing sheet 8 is pulled out from a washingsheet winding unit 6 and is fixed to a metal stopper 11, and the body ofthe sufferer is washed.

[0055] After washing the body of the sufferer, water used when showeringthe body of the sufferer is flowed via the washing sheet 8 and isdrained from the upper part of the bath tub 15. Therefore, the water inthe bath tub 15 is not contaminated.

[0056] After the body is washed, the sufferer is again moved down intothe bath tub 15 for bathing. When the bathing is completed, thehydraulic pump 27 of the main hydraulic lift 2 is operated to again liftthe sufferer horizontally, and the body of the sufferer is dried.

[0057] Thereafter, the gear motor 1 for forward and backward movementshaving a roller is operated to move the sufferer in the forwarddirection. Then, the solenoid valve 26 (FIG. 5) of the hydraulic machine49 having a hydraulic pump for opening and closing a bath tub (FIG. 8)is opened to return the bed 9 having vertical grooves to the initialposition. Then, the gear motor 1 for forward and backward movementshaving a roller is operated again to move the sufferer to the center ofthe bed 9. The solenoid valve 26 of the main hydraulic lift 2 is openedto lower the sufferer by the body weight to insert the arms 7 in thevertical grooves 10 of the bed 9, thereby returning the sufferer ontothe bed.

[0058] Thereafter, the drop prevention frame 22 is removed and the gearmotor 1 for forward and backward movements having a roller is operatedto move the arms 7 to the rearmost part (i.e., left end of FIG. 8),thereby completing the bathing.

[0059] Next, using of the toilet will be described.

[0060] First, a pillow and a blanket are removed while sufferer is lyingon the bed 9 and the cloth of the lower body of the sufferer is removed.Then, the sufferer wearing only a disposable diaper is moved to thecenter of the arms 7 by moving the gear motor 1 for forward and backwardmovements having a roller in the forward direction. Then, the dropprevention frame 22 in FIG. 3 is inserted to the drop prevention frameinsertion hole 21 to prevent the sufferer from being dropped. Then, thehydraulic pump 27 of the main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulic pumpis operated to lift the body of the sufferer horizontally as shown inFIG. 1.

[0061] Next, the gear motor 1 for forward and backward movements havinga roller is operated to move the arms 7 in the forward direction (i.e.,to the right end of FIG. 8). Then, the hydraulic pump 27 of thehydraulic machine 49 having a hydraulic pump for opening and closing abath tub is operated as shown in FIG. 8 to open the bed 9 havingvertical grooves, and the arms 7 is again moved to the center of thebath tub 15 by operating the gear motor 1 for forward and backwardmovements having a roller.

[0062] Thereafter, while a cover 34 of the toilet 16 disposed in thebath tub 15 is being opened (FIG. 7), the toilet 16 that allows a userto use the toilet while lying down on the bed is moved to the center ofthe bath tub 15, and the solenoid valve 26 of the main hydraulic lift 2having a hydraulic pump is opened to lower the body of the sufferer bythe load. At this moment, the sufferer lies on his or her back whilesitting on the toilet 16 that allows the sufferer to use the toiletwhile lying down on the bed.

[0063] Next, the cover 34 is closed and both hands of a carer areinserted into the gloves 42 to remove the disposable diaper. Then, ashower 35 and a washing nozzle 40 (FIG. 7) are operated to wash thesufferer to wash off the waste. Then, the waste is cut by the cutter 32(FIG. 7) into small pieces, thereby draining the cut pieces of waste bythe toilet drain pump 50 (FIG. 8).

[0064] After the waste is washed out, the cover 34 is opened and thehydraulic pump 27 of the main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulic pumpis operated to lift the sufferer horizontally. Then, the lower body ofthe sufferer is wiped and the sufferer is returned to the bed 9 byfollowing the above steps in the reverse order, thereby completing thetoileting operations.

[0065] For a sufferer who can defecate without using a disposablediaper, a toilet bowl 55 on which a user can sit as shown in FIG. 9 isused. This toilet bowl 55 is moved to the center of the bath tub 15, andthe solenoid valve 26 of the main hydraulic lift 2 having a hydraulicpump is opened to lower the sufferer by the load. At this moment, thesufferer takes a posture of siting on the toilet bowl 55 on which a usercan sit while lying on his or her back.

[0066] It is noted that although the solenoid valve 26 of the hydrauliclift 3 having an arm adjustment hydraulic pump for upper body is closedand the upper body is maintained horizontally, the arms 7 for the lowerbody connected to the bobbing type auxiliary hydraulic lift 5 are bentin the lower direction.

[0067] Next, the hydraulic pomp 27 of the hydraulic lift 3 having an armadjustment hydraulic pump for upper body is operated to lift thebackrest so that the backrest is moved as shown in FIG. 2, therebyallowing the sufferer to sit on the toilet for defecation. After thedefecation, the sufferer is returned to the bed 9 by following the abovesteps in the reverse order, thereby completing the toileting operations.

[0068] To raise the bed backrest, the solenoid valve of the hydrauliclift 3 having an arm adjustment hydraulic pump for upper body is openedto operate the hydraulic pump 27 (FIG. 5) of the backrest adjustmenthydraulic machine 24 (FIG. 4) in a state where the arms 7 around theupper body are freely movable, thereby adjusting the backrest to adesired angle.

[0069] To return the backrest to the initial position, the solenoidvalve 26 of the backrest adjustment hydraulic machine 24 is opened so asto allow the body weight of the sufferer to return the sufferer to theinitial position.

[0070] The steps as described above can be performed electrically byproviding a limit switch at each point, thus minimizing the labor burdento the carer when moving the sufferer to bathing or toileting.

[0071] It is noted that 24-volt power sources are used for the powersources of the hydraulic pump 27 and the solenoid valve 26, etc. inconsideration of the risk of leakage of electricity.

[0072] The reference numerals in the drawings that are not explainedrepresent the following components. Reference numeral 12 represents abath tub drain pump; 13 represents a backrest bending shaft; 17represents a bearing; 18 represents a fan-shaped folding plate; 19represents a bearing; 20 represents a shaft; 23 represents a stopper; 31represents a waterproofing rubber for feet; 33 represents an open/closeshaft; 36 represents a waterproofing rubber for arms; 37 represents apush button of feed valves for shower and a washing nozzle; 38represents a push button of the feed valve for toilet washing water; 39represents a shower water feed tube; 40 represents a washing nozzle; 41represents a waterproofing rubber for body; 43 represents a shower waterfeed tube; 44 represents a toilet bowl; 52 represents a push button fora washing nozzle feed valve; 53 represents a toilet bowl; 54 representsa toilet seat; and 56 represents a push button for a toilet washing feedvalve.

[0073] It is noted that there is a case where the main hydraulic lift 2having a hydraulic pump of the lift 100 cannot be accommodated in ahouse of a person requiring home care due to the structure of the house,such as a house with low ceiling.

[0074] The operating range of the hydraulic lift is limited to thelength of the shaft of the hydraulic lift 2. To expand the operatingrange of the lift 100, a hydraulic lift 2 having a long shaft must beused. However, such a hydraulic lift 2 with a long shaft is difficult toinstall in a room with low ceiling.

[0075] Thus, as shown in other embodiments illustrated in FIG. 11 andFIG. 12 in which same elements are represented by the same referencenumerals in FIG. 1, a so-called wire suspension type is employed inplace of the hydraulic lift 2, in which arms are suspended by a wire 60which is moved up and down by a gear motor 57.

[0076] In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, reference numeral 58 represents a roller;59 represents rails; 61 represents a roller; and 62 represents a pulley.

[0077] Also, in place of the hydraulic lift 2 in FIG. 1, a so-calledworm screw type lift is used in which a screw 64 is used for winding upby a gear motor 63 as shown in another embodiment in FIG. 13 in whichthe same reference numerals in FIG. 1 are used in the same elements.This allows only the fixed auxiliary hydraulic lift 4 to go up and downalong the screw 64 (FIG. 13) or the rails 59 (FIG. 12), thereby allowingthe bed to be installed even in a room with a low ceiling.

[0078] In FIG. 13, reference numeral 65 represents a nut screwed withthe screw 64.

[0079] Although in the above embodiment the toilet is installed in thebath tub by providing rails in the bath tub, rails 77 may be provided onthe bath tub 15 as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 or rails 84 may beprovided exterior to the bath tub 15 as shown in FIG. 16.

[0080] In FIGS. 14 through 16, reference numeral 66 represents a waterboiler; 67 represents a shower; 68 represents a solenoid; 69 representsa temperature control valve; 70 represents a wastewater tank; 71represents a cutter (crusher); 72 represents a hose storage box; 73represents a wastewater flexible hose; 74 represents a water feed hose;75 represents a roller; 76 represents an opening for cleaning; 78represents a net; 79 represents a wastewater tube; 80 represents awashing nozzle; 81 represents hand rails; 82 represents a roller; and 83represents an angle member.

[0081] An air mattress type folding bed 85 having an air pump as shownin FIG. 17 also may be provided in order to temporarily place thesufferer thereon for cleaning or maintaining the bath tub of the carebed.

[0082] In FIG. 17, reference numeral 86 represents a spherical rollerand 87 represents an air pump.

[0083] As described above, the care bed used commonly for bathing andtoileting according to the present invention can minimize the laborburden on a carer responsible for the care of a bedridden sufferer. Thisallows even a carer of advanced age alone to take care of nursingoperations for the sufferer such as bathing and toileting. Further, byemploying hydraulic lifts for the lifts, smooth movements are attainedand sufferers receive no physical pains.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0084] As described above, the care bed used commonly for bathing andtoileting according to the present invention is suitable for a care bedfor reducing the labor burden to the carer and the sufferer as much aspossible.

1. A care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting, characterized byproviding: a bed having a plurality of vertical grooves disposed on abath tub; and a lift having arms to be inserted into the plurality ofvertical grooves, for lifting horizontally and movable back and forthafter the arms are inserted to the plurality of vertical grooves.
 2. Acare bed used commonly for bathing and toileting according to claim 1,characterized in that the bed is attached on a bath tub so that upperface of the bath tub can be opened and closed via opening and closingmeans.
 3. A care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting accordingto claim 2, characterized in that the opening and closing means is ahydraulic machine having a hydraulic pump for opening and closing thebath tub.
 4. A care bed used commonly for bathing and toiletingaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the lift comprises ahydraulic lift having a hydraulic pump; an arm adjustment hydraulic lifthaving a hydraulic pump for upper body; a fixed auxiliary hydrauliclift; and a bobbing type auxiliary hydraulic lift.
 5. A care bed usedcommonly for bathing and toileting according to claim 1, characterizedin that the lift comprises a wire suspension type lift; an armadjustment hydraulic lift having a hydraulic pump for upper body; afixed auxiliary hydraulic lift; and a bobbing type auxiliary hydrauliclift.
 6. A care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting according toclaim 1, characterized in that the lift comprises a worm screw typelift; an arm adjustment hydraulic lift having a hydraulic pump for upperbody; a fixed auxiliary hydraulic lift; and a bobbing type auxiliaryhydraulic lift.
 7. A care bed used commonly for bathing and toiletingaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the bath tub has a toiletmeans that is supported in a slidable manner.
 8. A care bed usedcommonly for bathing and toileting according to claim 7, characterizedin that the toilet means is provided with a cutter for cutting waste. 9.A care bed used commonly for bathing and toileting according to claim 8,characterized in that the toilet means is a toilet that allows a user touse the toilet while lying down on the bed and is a toilet on which theuser sits.
 10. A care bed used commonly for bathing and toiletingaccording to claim 9, characterized in that the toilet that allows auser to use the toilet while lying down on the bed includes a cover foropening and closing the upper face of the toilet.
 11. A care bed usedcommonly for bathing and toileting according to claim 10, characterizedin that the cover includes gloves used for cleaning in the toilet.